Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised the Nigerian authorities over the alleged non-payment of match allowances to the Super Eagles.
He described the situation as a national embarrassment and an unnecessary distraction for the team.
Obi, on his verified ‘X’ handle Wednesday night, expressed concern that at a time when Nigerians are in dire need of hope, unity and positive global representation, the national football team, one of the country’s few sources of collective pride, was being subjected to avoidable hardship.
He noted that the Eagles, through their recent victories, have lifted the nation’s spirits and projected Nigeria positively on the global stage, yet were reportedly being denied their basic entitlements.
He questioned the priorities of the country, saying while trillions of naira are written off as debts for government agencies and political allies, and vast sums are expended on what he described as grandiose and self-serving projects, the nation appeared unable to meet its obligations to its footballers.
“A country that writes off trillions in debts and squanders resources on non-essential projects should not struggle to pay agreed match bonuses to its national team,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor warned that such failures damage Nigeria’s international image and undermine the morale of players ahead of critical matches, including an important quarter-final fixture.
To him, the Super Eagles do not deserve the embarrassment or the distractions arising from issues that could easily be resolved through responsible governance and timely fulfilment of commitments.
Obi called on the relevant authorities to urgently address the situation and ensure that all outstanding allowances are paid without delay, stressing that Nigeria must learn to honour its obligations.